Iran: Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei stated on Sunday that rulers of Muslim countries should recognize what he described as "the true enemy," accusing the United States and Israel of being "sworn enemies" of Islamic unity.

According to Anadolu Agency, Khamenei emphasized in a message marking 'Islamic Unity Week' that leaders of Islamic countries, particularly those in West Asia and along the Gulf, must identify their true adversary, understand its strategies, and confront it. The message, broadcast by Iran's state-run broadcaster IRIB, highlighted attempts by these perceived enemies to exploit racial, cultural, social, economic, political, and geographical differences to sow discord among Muslims in Iran and other Islamic nations.

Khamenei urged the Iranian people to maintain unity and avoid allowing differences to divide them. He stressed that unity among Muslims is crucial for achieving what he called the beloved and dominant Islamic civilization. Khamenei accused the US and Israel of being "the sworn enemies of this unity and friendship," asserting that their hostility extends beyond Iran to the entire Islamic world.

The statement comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East following joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February, which led Tehran to retaliate against regional countries hosting US assets. Although Iran and the US signed a 14-point memorandum of understanding in June to end the conflict, the interim agreement quickly collapsed.